South Carolina

Slave Narrative of William Rose

Interviewer: C. S. Murray Person Interviewed: William Rose Location: Edisto Island, South Carolina Going Down To Die (Folklore) Story Told By Ex-Slave Boss Man, you talk about de brave soldier who been in de last big war and how dey look death in de eye and spit on him. I ain’t see dat war. It been ‘cross de water. But I know sump’en ’bout de Civil War. I been young lad when de big gun shoot and de Yankee pile down from de north. Talk ’bout being brave. De bravest thing I ever see was one day at Ashepoo junction. … Read more

Slave Narrative of Ellen Renwick

Interviewer: Mr. G. Leland Summer Person Interviewed: Ellen Renwick Location: Newberry, South Carolina Folk-Lore: Ex-Slaves “I was born on Capt. John P. Kinard’s place. My mammy and pa was Lucy and Eph Kinard who belonged to Marse Kinard. Marse Kinard was good to his slaves—didn’t whip them much. He whipped me a little. When I was a little girl I slept in the big house in the room with my mistress and her husband, and waited on them. I worked when I got old enough, in the field, and anywhere around. When I wouldn’t work good, my mammy whipped me … Read more

Slave Narrative of Lila Rutherford

Interviewer: G. Leland Summer Person Interviewed: Lila Rutherford Location: Newberry, South Carolina Place of Birth: Dutch Fork, Newberry County, SC Date of Birth: about 1849 “I was born about 1849 in the Dutch Fork section of Newberry County, S.C. I was slave of Ivey Suber and his good wife. My daddy was Bill Suber and my mammy was Mary Suber. I was hired by Marse Suber as a nurse in the big house, and I waited on my mistress when she was sick, and was at her bed when she died. I had two sisters and a brother and when … Read more

Slave Narrative of Frank Range

Interviewer: Hattie Mobley Person Interviewed: Frank Range Location: Greenville, South Carolina Age: 103 Place of Residence: 101 Hudson St. Greenville, S.C Civil War Servant and Hero At the age of one hundred and three, Frank Range is a familiar figure on the streets of Greenville, talking freely of pre-Civil and Civil War days, and the part he played in the war. Frank, the oldest of nine children, was born of slave parents, Lenard and Elizabeth Herbert, on the plantation of Mr. Jim Boler, Newberry, South Carolina. He was sold several times, and is known by the name of one of … Read more

Slave Narrative of Rosa Starke

Interviewer: W. W. Dixon Person Interviewed: Rosa Starke Location: Winnsboro, South Carolina Date of Birth: 1854 Age: 83 Occupation: Farm work, hoeing and picking cotton. Rosa’s grandfather was a slave of Solicitor Starke. Although she has had two husbands since slavery, she has thrown their names into the discard and goes by the name of Rosa Starke. She lives in a three-room frame house with her son, John Harrison, two miles south of Winnsboro, S.C., on the plantation of Mrs. Rebecca V. Woodward. She still does farm work, hoeing and picking cotton. “They say I was six years old when … Read more

Slave Narrative of Susie Riser

Interviewer: G. Leland Summer Person Interviewed: Susie Riser Date of Interview: May 17, 1937 Location: Newberry, South Carolina Place of Birth: Dutch Fork, South Carolina “I was born near Broad River in de Dutch Fork of Newberry County. I was a slave of Cage Suber. He was a fair master, but nothing to brag about. I was small at slavery time and had to work in de white folks’ house or around the house until I was big enough to go to de field and work. “Old Marse Cage always made me fan flies off of him when he lay … Read more

Slave Narrative of Mom Jessie Sparrow

Interviewer: Annie Ruth Davis Person Interviewed: Jessie Sparrow Date of Interview: May 1937 Location: Marion, South Carolina Age: 83 “Honey, my white folks been well-to-do peoples. Dey ain’ been no poor white trash. Dey hab ‘stonishing blood in dey vein. I been b’long to Massa Sam Stevenson wha’ lib right down dere ‘cross Ole Smith Swamp. Dey ain’ hab no chillun dey own, but dey is raise uh poor white girl dere, Betty. Dey gi’e (give) she eve’yt’ing she ha’e en dey school she too.” “De ole man, he mind ain’ been zactly right when he die. Dey say he … Read more

Slave Narrative of Silas Smith

Interviewer: Caldwell Sims Person Interviewed: Silas Smith Date of Interview: November 12, 1937 Location: Gaffney, South Carolina “Lawsey, honey chile, how does I know jes’ when I was born. All sech as dat don’t mean nothing to us old slave time darkies. De mis’tus say, ‘Silas, you sho was thirteen years old when dat ‘Federate War wound up! Dat’s all I knows and dat’s what I goes by. De white folks is worrying ’bout my age being in sech and sech a year and all de like of dat. No sech as dat don’t worry Silas, kaise he sho don’t … Read more

Slave Narrative of Mary Scott

Interviewer: Mrs. Lucile Young & H. Grady Davis Person Interviewed: Mary Scott Location: Gourdin, South Carolina Age: 90 Ex-Slave, About 90 years old “Where and when were you born?” “On Gaston Gamble place, between here and Greeleville. In da Gamble’s Bible is my age. Don’t know my age. Pretty much know how old, I bout 90. I wuz little girl when freedom come.” “Give the names of your father and mother.” “Father, John Davis. Mother, Tina Davis. Belonged to last mausa. Darby Fulton. Gamble sold mama and three children to Fulton. Belonged to Davis after freedom. Father belonged to Davis. … Read more

Slave Narrative of Ellen Swindler

Interviewer: G. Leland Summer Person Interviewed: Ellen Swindler Date of Interview: May 20, 1937 Location: Newberry, South Carolina Place of Birth: Newberry County SC “I was born on the Enoree River in Newberry County. Tom Price was my master. I married Nathan Swindler when I was about grown. My father and mother was Dave and Lucy Coleman. I had a brother and several sisters. We children had to work around the home of our master ’till we was old enough to work in de fields, den we would hoe and pick cotton, and do any kinds of field work. We … Read more

Slave Narrative of Joe Rutherford

Interviewer: G. Leland Summer Person Interviewed: Joe Rutherford Location: Newberry, South Carolina “I was born about 1846, ’cause I was in de war and was 19 years old when de war was over. I went to Charleston with my master, Ros Atwood, my mistress’s brother. My mistress was Mrs. Laura Rutherford and my master at home was Dr. Thomas Rutherford. We was on Morris Island. “My father was Allen Rutherford and my mother Barbara Rutherford. My daddy had come from Chili to this country, was a harness maker, and belonged awhile to Nichols. We had a good house or hut … Read more

Slave Narrative of Prince Smith

Interviewer: Augusta Ladson Person Interviewed: Prince Smith Location: Wadmalaw, South Carolina Experiences Of An Ex-Slave On Wardmalaw Island Massa Wus Kind to Slaves Prince Smith, a man who is said to be over a hundred years of age, has lived on Wardmalaw Island practically all of his life. His experiences during slavery are very interesting and true to life. An interview with him revealed the following: “I was bo’n an’ raise’ on dis island and was only frum here when de Civil War had begun. W’en Fort Sumter wus fired on mossa carried seventy of us to Greenville, South Ca’lina … Read more

Slave Narrative of Dan Smith

Interviewer: W. W. Dixon Person Interviewed: Dan Smith Location: Winnsboro, South Carolina Place of Birth: Richland County SC Date of Birth: January 11, 1862 Age: 75 Occupation: Construction Dan Smith lives in one room, rent free, of a three-room frame house, the property of his son-in-law, Jim Cason. It is situated on the southeast corner of Garden and Palmer streets in the town of Winnsboro, S.C. He is tall, thin and toothless, with watery eyes and a pained expression of weariness on his face. He is slow and deliberate in movements. He still works, and has just finished a day’s … Read more

Slave Narrative of Mary Raines

Interviewer: W. W. Dixon Person Interviewed: Mary Raines Location: South Carolina Age: 99 Ex-Slave 99 Years Old. Mary Raines is the oldest living person, white or black, in Fairfield County. If she survives until next December, she will have attained her century of years. She lives with her widowed daughter, Fannie McCollough, fifty-seven years old, and a son, Joe Raines, aged 76 years. They rent a two-room frame house, on lands of Mrs. Sallie Wylie, Chester County, S.C. Joe, the son, is a day laborer on nearby farms. Fannie cooks for Mrs. W.T. Raines. Old Mother Mary has been receiving … Read more

South Carolina Civil War Rosters – 2nd Regiment, Company A.

CAPTAINS: Casson, W.H., Shelton, M.A., Gaillard, F., Leaphart, S., L., Maddy, M.M. FIRST LIEUTENANT: Shuler, P.H.B. SECOND LIEUTENANT: Brown, R., Myers, W.M., Eggleston, D.B. SERGEANTS: West, W.H., Reid, J.C., Bryant, J.F., Livingston, J.B., Cooper, G.F., Gilbert, J.G., Wells, J.F., McTurious, E.C. Joiner, B., DuBose, J. CORPORALS: Sulaff, W.C., Bruns, G., Newman, R., Rowan, S.W., Mack, J.M., Goodwin, C.T. PRIVATES: Atta, T.M., Andre, Geo., Anderson, M.J., Anderson, Geo., Andrews, T.P., Blackwell, Jas., Bryant, B.F., Brown, C.K., Brown, Jessie, Baker, J.L., Burns, L., Benjamin, T., Banks, C.C., Casson, J.H., Cavis, J.W., Canning, Thos., Clowdy, —-, Cannon, M., Calais, W.J., Cooper, J.W., DuBose, … Read more

South Carolina Civil War Rosters – 7th Regiment, Company L.

CAPTAINS: White, W.C., Litchfield, J.L., Litchfield, G.S. LIEUTENANTS: Beaty, T.W., Petman, S., Cooper, T.B., Newton, K.M., Grissett, J.D., Reves, J.W. SERGEANTS: Waid, G.W., Nercen, J.W., Floyd, A., Johnson, J.M., Anderson, —-, Gregary, T.H., Granger, J., Prince, J.L., Rabon, D., Johnson, C.L., Anderson, D.R. CORPORAL: Green, S.F. PRIVATES: Barnhill, W.H., Barnhill. H., Cooper, L., Cooper, R., Creaven, W.H., Creach, C., Chesnut, D.M.W., Cork, M.C., Cox, P.V., Cox, G.W., Dussenberry, J.H., Dussenberry, N.G., Edge, D.M., Edge, W., Faulk, G., Floyd, W., Faulk, L., Faulk, J.L., Foreland, N., Fund, G., Grattely, J., Granger, J., Granger, W., Granger, F., Graddy, N., Graham, D., Graham, … Read more

South Carolina Civil War Rosters – 3rd Battalion, Company G.

CAPTAINS: Irby, A.P., Whitner, B.M. LIEUTENANTS: Gladney, Wash, Robinson, J.S., Shedd, J.P., DesPortes, R.S., Jennings, R.H. SERGEANTS: Martin, D., Ashford, J.W., Gibson, H.T., Trapp, Laban, Watt, B.F., Trapp, L.H., Mason, W.N. CORPORALS: Beard, J.M., Robinson, Wm., Blair, A.F., Craig, T.N.A., Craig, Wm. PRIVATES: Aiken, Jim, Aiken, H.G., Aiken, H.N., Aiken, Robt., Brown, U., Brown, J.W., Brown, T.G., Brown, J.R., Blair, Thos., Blair, A.F., Boyd, John, Boney, Jesse, Bull, Thomas, Brown, Chas., Beard, James, Brown, Frank, Crawford, R.B., Crompton, Thomas, Carman, Sam., Carman, Jesse, Crossland, H.J., Chandler, W., Craig, Wm., Crossland, Jasper, Carmack, Warren, Davis, T.C., DesPortes, J.A., Douglass, C.M., Douglass, … Read more

South Carolina Civil War Rosters – 3rd Regiment, Field and Staff.

COLONELS: Williams, James H., Nance, James D., Rutherford, W.D., Moffett, R.C. LIEUTENANT COLONELS: Foster, B.B., Garlington, B.C., Todd, R.P. Majors: Baxter, James M., Nance, J.K.G. ADJUTANTS: Rutherford, W.D., Pope, Y.J. Sergeant MAJORS: Williams, J.W., Simpson, O.A., Garlington, J.D. QUARTERMASTERS: McGowan, Jno. G. (Captain), Shell, G.W. (Captain). COMMISSARIES: Hunt, J.H. (Captain), Lowrance, R.N. (Captain). SURGEONS: Ewart, D.E., Evans, James. ASSISTANT SURGEONS: Dorroah, Jno. F., Drummond, —-, Brown, Thomas.

South Carolina Civil War Rosters – 7th Regiment, Field and Staff.

COLONELS: Bacon, T.G., Aiken, D.W., Bland, Elbert. LIEUTENANT COLONEL: Fair, R.A. MAJORS: Seibles, E., Hard, J.S. ADJUTANT: Sill, T.M. QUARTERMASTER: Lovelace, B.F. COMMISSARY SERGEANT: Smith, Fred. SURGEONS: Dozier, —-, Spence, W.F., Horton, O.R. ASSISTANT SURGEONS: Carlisle, R.C., Stallworth, A. CHAPLAIN: Carlisle, J.M.

South Carolina Civil War Rosters – 7th Regiment, Company K.

CAPTAIN: Burees, J.F. LIEUTENANTS: Talbert, J.L., Berry, J.M., Chetham, J.W. SERGEANTS: Culbreath, O.T., Martin, W.N., Reynolds, W.M., Lamer, L.W., Burress, C.M. CORPORALS: Reynolds, J.W., Shibley, L.D., White, W.G., Williams, T.R. PRIVATES: Adams, B.O., Blake, J.E., Carthledge, T.A., Crafton, T.M., Coleman, W.L., Coleman, G.R., Culbreth, J., Deal, A., Devore, C.L., Franks, J.A., Hammonds, C.T., Harrison, C.H., Henderson, J.T., Henderson, J.E., Holmes, W.L., Holmes, H.J., Howell, H., Lamer, T.B., Lamer, O.W., Limbecher, C.H., Lockridge, J.L., Mayson, J.H., Quarles, H.M., Reynolds, J.C., Reynolds, E.W., Rountree, T.J., Rush, T.P., Stalmaker, G.I., Stalmaker, J.R., Stalmaker, J.W., Timmerman, G.H., Williams, J.R., Wood, W.B., Yeldell, W.H.